The Lamar Register

STRIKERS FIGHT WITH ROCKS
Guards Armed With Ball Cartridges and Instructed to Shoot--Situation Critical at Shenandoah, Pennsylvania.

Shenandoah, Pa., Aug. 3.-The entire Eighth regiment was called to arms last night as a result of three attacks by men in ambush who attacked the troops now in camp on the plateau outside the town. These attacks are becoming so frequent that Brigadier General Gobin has decided to adopt stern measures to end them. To-night a double guard supplied with ball cartridges, surrounds the camp and the sentries have been instructed that if last night's stone throwing is repeated they must shoot to kill and investigate afterwards. One of the attacking party, William Stoponitz, a Lithuanian, is under arrest, and the provost marshal is on the trail of others believed to number more than a dozen.

The first attack, according to Col. Theodore F. Hoffman, was made at 10:45 o'clock last night. Private Payne of Company I, on sentry duty, saw a party of men on the Mahoney city road, which separates the camp of the Eighth regiment from the Twelfth. He commanded the men to halt and called the corporal of the guard, but before the latter could respond a shower of stones and rocks was thrown at the sentry. One rock struck him on the chest, knocking him down and causing his gun to fall from his hands. He jumped up and fired several shots in the air, and as he did so, the men ran down the road. One of the pickets captured Stopnitz, but the others escaped.

The shooting aroused the whole camp and the Eighth regiment was put under arms, and companies B, E and K were soon out in skirmish lines. They beat the underbrush and laurel, which is five or six feet high all around the camp, but failed to find any one, and the regiment returned to quarters. Fifteen minutes later another shower of stones was thrown at the stable guard, south of the Eighth regiment. The guard turned out and three men were seen running away, but no pursuit was given.

Shortly after 3 o'clock this morning a third attack was made and it was of such a nature that the bugler, under orders from Colonel Hoffman, sounded the whole regiment to arms. The stable guard was again the object of attack, several volleys of stones being sent in the direction of the sentries. The regiment was under arms and ready for action within three minutes.

On account of the laurel, underbrush and the darkness, the soldiers could not see the offenders. However, the sentries fired about a dozen shots into the bushes, but it is believed no one was hit. Some of the bullets went whistling over the tents of the sleeping soldiers of the Twelfth regiment across the road. The noise of the firing and the bugle call aroused the Twelfth regiment and the governor's troop of cavalry, and each sent out detachments to investigate the trouble.

The brigadier general has issued orders that stringent measures are to be taken with all such offenders.

"I have ordered several rounds of ball cartridges to be issued to each sentry," he said, "and that the officers of the guard be instructed to have them used. The guard at the camp will also be increased."

Colonel Hoffman said: Last night's occurrence demonstrates that we can be ready for any emergency in three minutes, and hereafter we will stand no nonsense and will give a bullet for each stone.